mccartymind Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 Anyone know anything about the 2016 year? Looks like they made some changes then. Are we still seeing those same changes in 2018 or did things change again? Doesn’t look to be much. Just wondering if you have any insight into that year. Gonna look around for neck type but probably slim taper. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccartymind Posted June 1, 2020 Author Share Posted June 1, 2020 8 hours ago, fortyearspickn said: McC, You've probably seen it - but a previous post from SalChatham on page 2 provides some good info on neck shapes. Sal titled it 'Neck Shapes'. Who'd a Thunk? https://forum.gibson.com/topic/158079-neck-shapes/ thanks that’s helpful. Played a Hummingbird Sustainable today at a local shop and the neck was perfect. It’s the “Round” version and it was slimmer. I have learned that the neck on the guitar I returned (as did another Gibson I played today) came down flat on the side before moving into the rounder back of the neck creating a lip or sorts that for whatever reason bothers my hand. The round version doesn’t have the flat part of the U or D shape. Anyway, it’s annoying that my hand is that sensitive. But I know I like the round style but the problem is it’s not on the J45. At least not the modern ones. What remains to be seen is whether or not a slim Slim Taper would work. The 50s Original has the advertised Round neck but I’m assuming those are fatter. I need to play a handful of J45s next to each other but that’s not really an option. Might have to settle for buying something else for now until I find the right J45. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rnatk7 Posted June 5, 2020 Share Posted June 5, 2020 (edited) On 5/24/2020 at 7:04 PM, Dave F said: All kidding aside, I played electrics exclusively for about 40 years and struggled when switching to acoustics. The Taylors were real comfortable and sounded great plugged in but did not cut it in an acoustic setting. I started pigeon holing myself to a certain neck shape/size that felt comfortable and didn’t hurt my hand but that felt like it was limiting my choices. I decided to start exercising my hands/wrist and it worked. I can now pick up a chunky baseball neck or a mandolin and not have issues. I still have my preferences but pain is not a factor. As a side note, the grip strengthening helped my golf game. I find that interesting, because I just bought a Les Paul 100 and it kills my wrist. Switched to a cheap Les Paul Junior, and it's about the same. Both Epiphones. My point is though, that I played acoustic for years, barre chords on the neck on an Alvarez with 10 gague strings, and had no trouble. The Neck was great, as I was able to center my thumb on the back and even do some pentatonic licks fairly quickly. My thumb tends to shift to the left side of the back of the neck to where my thumb bottom towards my hand is touching the guitar on epiphones. I've played electric since I was 13 or so, 24 now, and have always played this Dean stat knockoff HSS, used the neck for blues, and bridge for heavier songs. I demoed an archtop Epiphone Les Paul at guitar center in december, the quilttop blue type, and it played well, but the 100 and the Jr. Kill my hand. It might be because my playing style is more Randy Rhoades/ Eddie Van Halen now than my previous style of Clapton and John Mayer.hose stretches and scale runs are pretty exteme especially on a Les Paul. I know you can get certain models better for shredding, but I'm trying to find a neck in the epiphone line that's as comfortable for me as a strat. I also have a Jay Turser SG on layaway at a pawn shop that is decently comfortable to play, at least for the 30 minutes I demoed it. It's nearly paid off. TJust don't know why I can still play the 3 plus 3 headstock alvarez acoustic and still have trouble with the Les Paul. I also repaired an SG Special with the broken off headstock with titebond and a new graphtec nut and it still kills my hand, even with low bridge height like I have on the LP 100. The special had dead and repeating frets when I bought it, but raising the bridge a tad got rid of all those dead spots, and now every note is precise. But is there a super comfortable neck for Epiphones for a person coming from a strat? Edited June 5, 2020 by Rnatk7 new details Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mccartymind Posted June 6, 2020 Author Share Posted June 6, 2020 I had the same store transfer a 50s Original J45 from one of their other stores cause it has the round neck. I went yesterday to play it and the neck was good but nut a bit tighter and didn't sound even near as good as the J45 I returned. I started playing the one I returned and I was very close to buying it again and just forcing myself to get used to it. It is the exact sound I am looking for. There's a D18 there that feels perfect in my hand. I love Martins but right now Gibsons are inspiring me the most to write songs and sing to them. And I just love everything about the sound of the J45 I returned. But I've realized the neck is almost too thin and puts pressure on my hands at the top and bottom of the neck/fretboard. My hand wants just a little more to rest in the palm. But won't I just get used to this? My hand and arm are just muscle and tendons. Won't I adjust? I'm still considering buying it back and if I can't get used to it, sell it myself. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rnatk7 Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 (edited) 4 hours ago, mccartymind said: I had the same store transfer a 50s Original J45 from one of their other stores cause it has the round neck. I went yesterday to play it and the neck was good but nut a bit tighter and didn't sound even near as good as the J45 I returned. I started playing the one I returned and I was very close to buying it again and just forcing myself to get used to it. It is the exact sound I am looking for. There's a D18 there that feels perfect in my hand. I love Martins but right now Gibsons are inspiring me the most to write songs and sing to them. And I just love everything about the sound of the J45 I returned. But I've realized the neck is almost too thin and puts pressure on my hands at the top and bottom of the neck/fretboard. My hand wants just a little more to rest in the palm. But won't I just get used to this? My hand and arm are just muscle and tendons. Won't I adjust? I'm still considering buying it back and if I can't get used to it, sell it myself. I'd buy it back then sell it myself later if I couldn't get used to it. It's an Electric, but I'm in a similar situation with my Epiphone Les Paul 100 I got for 150 off craigslist. I practically stole the thing anyways. It's a 200-250 dollar guitar, and it's in a beautiful dark red color with off white pickguard/pots. The humbuckers also have aged nicely. Not sure of the neck profile, but it kills my thumb all the way up the inside of my forearm. If nothing else, it's pretty to look at, and can be used for Les Paul chunky chords and such for my youtube tracks. I've been playing the same dean since I was 12, and It's been the only guitar I've needed electric wise up to this point. Super comfortable strat style with HSS. Probably what got my lusting after a Les Paul with the humbucker in the bridge. Edited June 6, 2020 by Rnatk7 wrong product name 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BluesKing777 Posted June 6, 2020 Share Posted June 6, 2020 Seriously, if it hurts, don’t do it! Keep looking and playing other models. BluesKing777. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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